Arduino Mega 2560: Busted Atmega 16U2

Question

I just bought an Arduino Mega2560 R3 and it doesn't connect to my Laptop. The connection is somewhat random, sometimes it connects and sometimes it doesn't.

Can someone help me identify whats the problem?

When it gets connected I can upload sketches.

I would like to remove the Atmega 16U2 and replace it with ftdi USB to Serial, would it be possible?

Answer 1

You can use your USB/Serial adapter to program the 2560 as the Arduino uses the 16u2 as the same thing to program the mega. You shouldn't remove the 16u2, just wait till you get the programmers and reflash the 16u2 with its firmaware and it will work, I actually had the same problem where the DFU didn't work and the 16u2 stopped responding, after reflashing the firmware it worked. The firmaware can be found under(as of 1.6.0):

...\Arduino\hardware\arduino\avr\firmwares\atmegaxxu2\MEGA-dfu_and_usbserial_combined.hex

You need to connect the Serial pins on the FTDI and Mega in the below fashion:

 FTDI           MEGA
 GND<----------->GND
 CTS<----------->GND
 VCC<----------->VCC
 TXD<----------->RX0
 RXD<----------->TX0
 RTS/DTR<---||-->RST

The Capacitor between the DTR pin and RST pin are needed this should be 100nF.

I have bought an I |SP programmer but it will take 3 weeks to reach and no I dont have another arduino, TBH I'm scared to buy another one... – echo_salik

If you are buying clones, those will more than likely give issues as they will be cutting back on costs in places, i.e. QC checks.